Grain-doors for railroad-cars.



J. T. W. LOB. GRAIN DOORS FOR RAILROAD CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1911.

Patented May. 7, 1912.

COLUMBIA l-LANDGRAPH C0.,WASIIINGTON. u.c.

JAMES T. W. LOE, OF MARSHALL, TEXAS.

GRAIN-DOORS FOR RAILROAD-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May *7, 1912.

Application filed June 2, 1911. Serial No. 630,933.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. W. LOE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marshall, in the county of Harrison and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Doors forRailroad-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in grain doors forrailroad cars.

The objects of my invention are to provide vertically swingable doubledoors for grain cars, which are safe, economical and eflicient, and easyof operation and of universal application to all grain cars. And furtherobjects are to provide doors which are adjustable on the inside of thecar and capable of operation from within, and are easily removed, storedand replaced as required by the grain season. I accomplish these objectsby means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a view adjusted to a car door opening, with dottedlines showing the stay bar and the doors in an open position. Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view looking downupon the doors in position for use. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view ofthe doors on a line where they lap in the middle.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 1, is an ordinary closed or boxfreight car with broken away ends, 2-2, and side door opening 3, throughwhich the car is loaded and unloaded. The plates 4-4, are suitablysecured by bolts, nails or screws to the interior of the car walls andextend flush with the door frame. They are of convenient width and of alength equal to the width of the doors, against which they swing, in theuse-0f the device, as hereinafter detailed. The bot-tom of these platesare outwardly bent upon themselves, forming substantially U shapedtroughs, 5-5, in which the doors move and rest in the use and operationof the device, giving to them strength and rigidity and preventing themfrom pressing out when grain presses against them when the car isloaded.

The double doors, 6 and 7 are of suitable material, preferably of metal,and are of sufficient length to extend across the door opening 3 and lapa sufiicient distance to give strength and rigidity to the same when inuse, and are of a width to suit the conditions required. On the dooroperating on the inside, 6, a bend is formed, as at 8, similar inconstruction to the one on the plates and extending the length of thelap of the other door, 7 into which the latter door drops when the doorsare to be closed. This bend or trough thus formed extends slightly overthe edge of the door passing into it, and gives strength and rigidity,preventing it from sliding or slipping from side to side or settlingbelow the margin of the door frame. On the door, 7 located outside ofthe door 6, is formed at its upper edge where it laps over the door 6,abend, as at 9, similar in construction to the bend on door 6 and theplates, 4-4, and adapted to fall over the upper edge of the oppositedoor 6, giving a stifiness and security to the top of the doors similarto that of the bottom, as heretofore described. The lower outsidecorners of these doors, 6 and 7, are slightly curved, as at 10-11, thuspermitting them to swing up or down in the troughs 55 on the plates 4-4,in raising or lowering the doors to open or close the same as desired.In these curved corners are provided openings through which they may besuitably attached to the sides of the car 1, as at 12, by means of apivot upon which the doors swing up or down in the use of the device.Ordinary hooks, 13-13' are conveniently pivoted to the door frame of thecar opening 3, as at 14, and are provided for the purpose of grippingthe upper edges of the doors 6 and 7 and holding them firmly in closedposition. Usual and ordinary loop handles, 15-15, are suitably securedto the interior of the doors, thus providing a convenient method ofmanipulating the same. A bar or brace, 16, may be conveniently insertedin openings, as at 17 ,in the car door frame, which will add to thestability and rigidity of the doors when in use.

Having described the construction of the device, the operation isobviously as follows :After the device is attached to the interior ofthe car door opening, as detailed, by manipulation the doors may beraised or lowered, swinging up or down on the pivots, 12, closing oropening the same as desired by the operator, the lapping ends whenlowered or closed, will enter the bends or troughs, holding the same inclose and rigid relation. The bar 16 may be used to add further strengthif desired. When the doors are thrown back in opening they drop into thetrough or bends 55 on the plates H, and prevent them from going downbelow the margin of the door frame, and assist in holding the doors inan upright position. The doors may be made of any ordinary size to suitthe width or height of the car door opening, and they can be easilyremoved for storage by removing the pivot 12 upon which the doors swing,and are equally as easy of putting back on the ear for use.

Having described my invention what I claim is 1. A device of thecharacter described, consisting of a pair of plates having outwardlyupturned lower edges forming troughs and means for securing the same toa car wall; and a pair of doors, each having a curved corner with anopening therein and adapted to pivotal attachment therethrough to thesaid plates; said doors being provided with upturned edges at theiroverdoors being provided with upturned edges at their overlapping endsand adapted to swing vertically in the car door frame, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature witnesses.

JAMES T. V. LOE.

in presence of two Witnesses:

J. A. BRYSON, C. M. ABNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

said plates; the said 1

